Final 2015 baseball power rankings

Rice's William Hesslink keeps an eye on the bases against CVU during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015.(Photo: GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS)Buy Photo

First of all, apologies for the delay. I had every intention of producing the season-ending high school baseball power rankings last week — and then, after the spring playoff blitz, I became reacquainted with the concept of time off.

Sunshine, down time, some lake time, friends in town ... you know how it goes.

1. Rice Memorial (18-2): I didn't get a lot of things right in my playoff predictions, but I did call the Division I final going to extra innings — a 5-2 victory by the Green Knights for their second straight crown. (Never mind that I picked CVU to win the final...) It was a classic encounter between the state's top two teams, one that tipped for Rice thanks to the fleet feet of Anthony Phillip and the left arm of Will Hesslink. Last week: 3.

2. Champlain Valley (18-2): The funny thing about the score in that Division I championship: The Redhawks beat Rice by the same score in extra innings in the regular season. The teams were just that close. Last week: 1.

Rice's William Hesslink keeps an eye on the bases against CVU during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Rice's Anthony Phillip, right, is safe at second as the ball gets away from CVU's Jed Morris during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Rice's Jack Fitzgerald, right, is tagged out at second by CVU's Rayne Supple during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Second base umpire Marc Chamberlin, left, chases Rice coach Jamie Merchant off the infield as Merchant protests Chamberlin's call during the Division I state high school baseball championship against CVU at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

CVU's Deagan Poland, left, and Jack Dugan collide as they field a fly ball agaisnt Rice during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

CVU's Jack Dugan, right, shows that he made the catch despite colliding with Deagan Poland, left, against Rice during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Rice's Anthony Phillip, right, waits for the pitch from CVU's Sam Mikell during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Rice's Henry Conroy, right, and CVU catcher Dan Poodiack wait for the pitch from Sam Mikell during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Rice's Chris Jansen, left, turns a double play over the slide by CVU's Sam Mikell during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

CVU's Sam Mikell beats the throw to Rice's John Boardman at first during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Rice's Jack Levinsky, left, fields the ball before throwing out CVU's Dane Whitcomb, right, at second during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

CVU's Dan Poodiak, center, dives back to first ahead of the throw from William Hesslink, left, to John Boardman during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Rice's John Boardman, left, catches out CVU's Sam Mikell at first during the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

CVU relief pitcher Andrew Bortnick reacts after being called on a balk during the Division I state high school baseball championship against Rice at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Rice's William Hesslink sheds his cap and glove as he celebrates the Green Knights' victory over CVU in the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

Rice's winning pitcher William Hesslink, right, hugs catcher Sean Remillard after striking out CVU's Rayne Supple in extra innings to win the Division I state high school baseball championship at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

CVU's Rayne Supple, right, walks away after striking out in extra innings to end the Division I state high school baseball championship against Rice at Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday, June 13, 2015. GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

3. South Burlington (14-5): The Rebels made Supple go the distance to beat them in the semifinals, the mark of a good team. Three of South Burlington's losses came against the two D-I finalists, and they were the only other club to beat third-seeded Colchester. Last week: 5.

4. Colchester (16-3): The Lakers' resurgent spring campaign ended a game short of the final — an 8-1 loss to the eventual state champion that could've gone either way until the sixth inning. Colchester's body of work before that provided all the proof necessary to show the squad belonged with the state's elite this year. Last week: 2.

5. BFA-Fairfax (18-1): Perhaps the class of the state outside the Division I ranks, the Bullets once again put on a clinic in Division III. Their crisp, relentless style gave opponents no room for error and resulted in Fairfax's second title in a row, capping a three-year run in which coach Mike Brown's group went 55-2. Last week: 6.

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Williamstown's Curtis Gauthier, left, slides into second base under the tag by BFA-Fairfax shortstop Jared Quick during the Division III state championship game on Saturday at Centennial Field. AUSTIN DANFORTH/FREE PRESS

BFA-Fairfax converge on pitcher Kyle Combs after the final out of their 13-3 victory over Williamstown in the Division III high school baseball state championship game on Saturday at Centennial Field. AUSTIN DANFORTH/FREE PRESS

BFA-Fairfax third baseman Jake Hakey, right, applies the tag on Williamstown's Curtis Gauthier during the Division III state championship game on Saturday at Centennial Field. AUSTIN DANFORTH/FREE PRESS

BFA-Fairfax's Dale Cardinal (11) high-fives with teammates between innings during the Division III state championship game against Williamstown on Saturday at Centennial Field. AUSTIN DANFORTH/FREE PRESS

BFA-Fairfax players celebrate after the final out of their 13-3 victory over Williamstown in the Division III high school baseball state championship game on Saturday at Centennial Field. AUSTIN DANFORTH/FREE PRESS

BFA-Fairfax coach Mike Brown reacts after a hit while coaching third base during the Division III state championship game against Williamstown on Saturday at Centennial Field. AUSTIN DANFORTH/FREE PRESS

BFA-Fairfax first baseman Kyle Combs, center digs out a throw before Connor Gerrish (34) can reach base during the Division III state championship game on Saturday at Centennial Field. AUSTIN DANFORTH/FREE PRESS

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6. Lamoille (18-2): Twenty years after their first and only baseball crown, the Lancers did it again, a milestone moment for coach Greg Stokes, as Alex Abrami captured in his championship gamer. To do it, Lamoille had to survive Lake Region and ace Matt Messier, then dispatch the Bellows Falls team that bested defending champion Mill River in the semifinals. Title earned, for sure. Last week: 9.

7. Mill River (17-2): It was tough luck in the semis for the Minutemen. Rain forced the early suspension of their clash with Bellows Falls just after ace Lincoln Pritchard's pitch count surpassed the number that would let him throw again the next day. Last week: 5.

8. Bellows Falls (14-6): One of only two teams to beat D-II powerhouse Mill River this year, the Terriers reached the state championship game for the first time since 1999. Last week: Bubble.

9. Milton (10-6): Without taking too much credit from 14th-seeded Vergennes' upset of the Yellowjackets, Milton was clearly the better team from start to finish this season. But one-and-done playoff baseball can yield some surprising outcomes and Milton's loss was one. The Yellowjackets stay in the top 10 because of their convincing regular-season resume. Last week: 8.

10. Blue Mountain (14-5): Like Rice and BFA-Fairfax, the Bucks made it two crowns in a row with their 8-3 win at Centennial Field thanks to 14 Black River walks and an 18-strikeout performance by ace Tyler Davis. And that all came after Blue Mountain escaped from a 5-0 hole against Concord in the semifinals, the final game for the Concord program. (Do not miss the video below by the Caledonian-Record on the final days of Concord athletics.) Last week: Unranked.

On the bubble: Williamstown (19-1), Lake Region (12-6).

This story was first published on June 24, 2015. Contact Austin Danforth at 651-4851 or edanforth@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/eadanforth